MUSEUM STANDARD STUDY- GRP WRK by Anwesha Sonai

STANDARDS

1. INTRODUCTION: A museum is a public collection of objects testifying to human cultural development. It collects, documents, receives, researches, interprets and communicates these through display.

2. COMPONENTS:

•Spaces where visitors learn through passive activities. •Non objective works are displayed through walls. •Free standing exhibitions are used for models and structures. •Showcase are used for thematic exhibition and for chronological circulation. •Common spaces for the visitors for refreshment from the tour. •Auditorium are used to showcase history through media.

3. CIRCULATION:

•Visitors approach objects that are perceived as attractive or interesting. •.Many objects may be viewed because they are in the visitor's circulation pathway and thus require little effort.. •The value of the exhibit experience changes with variations in both benefits and cost. •Turning right at choice points and walking on the right side of pathway. •Backtracking the pathway. •One-sided viewing. CIRCULATION DIAGRAM

POSSIBLE EXHIBITION ARRANGEMENTS

STANDARDS

4. LIGHTING & DISPLAY:

•No direct daylight should fall on the museum objects as it causes damage. •Rooms should be provided with flexible lighting system: no permanently built-in lights, no fixed or ceiling lights. •In public rooms, where no items are displayed, a greater amount of daylight is required.(e.g. library) •Exhibits may be of four types : Hanging or wall mounted(a, b, c) Free standing and open exhibits(e) Contained exhibits( f , g) Display cases (h)

MEASUREMENT OF AN ADULT AND SIX-YEAR OLD VISITOR IN RELATION TO CASES.

FIELD

VISION:

VIEWING DISTANCE SHOULD INCREASE WITH GREATER SIZE OF OBJECT.

HEIGHT/SIZE

AND

DISTANCE

STANDARDS

5. RELATIVE HUMIDITY & TEMPERATURE •The ideal temperatures in the store and display areas are 15-18°C in winter and 20-22°C in summer. Except as short peaks, in the summer 26°C should not be exceeded. •A temperature of 12-13°C is optimal for all science and ethnography collections, because the reproduction of insect is very limited under 15°C. •to proper control of relative humidity, temperature and air pollution. The relative humidity in the store and display areas depends upon the displayed and stored materials such as Wood = 55-60%; Canvas = 50-55%; Paper = 45-50%; Metals = max. 40% •Exhibition; collection storage and conservation; display and photographic work areas must be given special consideration

EFFECTS OF MOISTURE ON WOOD

6. ACOUSTICS AND ZONING:

•Functional zones should be provided with surface or sub-surface materials that dampen impact sounds and isolating cavities to interrupt the structural transmission of sound. •The penetration of low-frequency sound is lessened by structural mass of middle frequencies by diffusing and absorbing surfaces. •The high-frequency sound by the elimination of small-scale air gaps in doors windows and partition walls. •Acoustic Panels can help absorb the extra noise from music, narratives, interactive displays and ambient noise commonly found in museums. •Reverberation and echo combined with poor speech intelligibility and background noise can detract from the potential impact of the exhibit.

STANDARDS

•Zoning as a museum planning tool can General Loading be arranged as  Public Collection Areas: Zone with environmental controls and security Food Workshop designed for the preservation of Service s collections Collection Non Public Areas: Zone which is meant Loading for the staff alone with environment Receiving Exhibition controls and security. Public Non-collection Areas: Zone in which the finish and durability and Collection General environment created for human comforts. Storage Storage Non Public Collection Areas: Zone in which the finish and durability and Non Public Area environment created for the staffs alone. ZONING DIAGRAM

Store Auditorium Lecture Hall Multipurpose Hall

Public Entry Lobby Restroom Information Checkroom Cloak room

Admin office Public Area

7. SECURITY AND SERVICES:

•Security problems can be avoided by keeping the number of access points to the site and to the building to a minimum. •One public entrance monitored by information staff and/or attendants, and one staff entrance controlled by the security staff. •In Museum planning, building services engineering comprises mechanical engineering. electrical engineering and plumbing (MEP) engineering, all of which are further subdivided into the following: Communication lines, telephones and IT networks.  Escalators and lifts.  Fire detection and protection. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Lightning protection. Natural lighting and artificial lighting and building facades. Security and alarm systems. Water, drainage and plumbing.

STANDARDS

8. FIRE SAFETY:

•PLANNING OF THE SITE:

The site selected for the proposed museum should have adequate and reliable water supply for fire fighting. Also it should be within easy accessibility from the nearest fire fighting station.

•PROTECTION AGAINST EXTERNAL EXPOSURE:

There shall be sufficient space around to provide a natural fire break. If sufficient clear space cannot be provided, the exterior walls facing the adjacent buildings should be of adequate fire resistive construction of 4 hour rating conforming to IS 1642 and shall be without any openings. When openings are absolutely essential, these should be protected with wired glazing and the doors shall be fire check doors. The external face or such openings shall be protected by water drenching system combined with automatic fire shutters. Roof covering of the museum building and window frames also required to be of non-combustible material.

•TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION:

The type of construction for exterior walls shall be 4 hour rating in conformity with IS 1642 and internal walls shall be of 2 hour resistance minimum. The staircase shall be on the exterior wall and enclosed from 3 sides and accessible only through a fire check door. Relaxation in regard to interior wall/ceilings/ partitions, etc, can be permitted only when the building is totally sprinkled.

•AIR CONDITIONING AND FALSE CEILING:

For the comfort of the visitors and also to prevent some of the exhibits getting damaged due to heat, etc many museums are centrally air conditioned. The installation of the air conditioning system including its ducting, insulation and outer coverage of insulation shall be totally non-combustible and in conformity with IS 1642. The false ceiling shall be of non combustible materials preferably wood wool board having a minimum of 1 hour fire resistance. There, shall be arrangement to cut off the air handling unit by automatic means in case of fire.

STANDARDS

•COMPARTMENTATION:

Large areas will cause a fire spread uninterruptedly and may be too big to control. Therefore, it is essential that proper fire resistive compartments should be made to the extent possible.

•BASEMENT AREA:

The chance of fire spread is much greater in basement, such areas shall be ventilated through mechanical means.  To ensure safety of visitors/workers in basement, it shall be ensured that the escape route is always kept clear of all obstructions, and mechanical ventilating system is fully functional to exhaust all smoke in case of any fire outbreak.

•INTERIOR FINISH:

All materials used in connection with interior finished like wall paneling. ceiling decoration, drop clothes etc, shall of noncombustible nature. Some limited quantity of combustible materials like practical wood paneling, partitions or decorative drop clothes, Hessions can be used, if properly treated with appropriate fire retardant paints to improve its surface spread as flame from Class IV to Class I as defined in the National Building Code.

•LIMITING IN CONCENTRATION OF VALUES:

It is advisable that the management of each museum should limit storage of materials to the minimum quantity in one particular room, and spread over the exhibits in different adjoining rooms/halls with properly segregated fire walls and fire doors to ensure that even in case of a fire outbreak, the damage to such invaluable exhibit is contained to the minimum. Such exhibits may be coated with colorless fire retardant paints.

• HAZARDOUS AREAS: All such hazardous operation area shall be segregated from the exhibit area, other valuable stores by proper fire resisting wall and door. Preferably such hazardous operations shall be on upper floors of the building that is above the exhibit area unless all such areas are totally sprinkler protected. In any other circumstances, the hazardous operation areas shall be segregated from exhibit areas and in addition should be protected by automatic fire detection cum alarm system

STANDARDS

•COMPACT STORAGE:

To save space, some museums do keep exhibits in such a way that it can be moved from place to place for exhibition purpose. Such arrangements causes difficulty in access to the site of fire.

•LIGHTING SYSTEM:

Every case of lighting installation, should in general conform to National Electrical Code. Electrical Wiring should be in conduit only. Armored and sheathed copper cable or fire resistance low cable(FR.L.S.) should be used for sensitive areas. Distribution boards shall be housed inside metal enclosure open-able in front or treated timber of at least 40 mm thick may be employed with coating of fire retardant solutions.  Heavy cables should be coated with fire paints.  Electrical shafts should be sealed at every floor level with noncombustible material, in conformity with National Building Code.

•EXIT WAYS LOCKED:

It is equally important that in case of an emergency all the entry gates shall be also available for exit in addition to the main exit gate.  Except main door, all the doors of the hall of museum should be lockable type only from inside.

•FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE FIGHTING:

Importance of early detection of fire, specially where the exhibits are likely to be damaged even by smoke. Unjudicious use of water in areas where old documents, paintings and clay are exhibited may cause more harm than good. Entire building should be protected with automatic fire detection cum alarm system with all panels, hooters, break glass, etc.  In maximum areas, only ionization type smoke detectors should be used or heat detector of rate of rise cum fixed temperature type should be used in dust prone areas. Fire Hydrant System, if installed, shall conform to IS 3844. Use of automatic sprinkler is strongly recommended in all areas except areas of documents, paintings etc. For hazardous areas, a gas based automatic extinguishing system should be used.

STANDARDS

9. GENERAL STANDARDS:

STAIR WIDTH REQUIRED IN A MUSEUM

MAXIMUM DISTANCE

DIMENSION OF RISER AND TREAD

VERTICAL FIELD OF VIEW

HORIZONTAL FIELD OF VIEW

STANDARDS

SPACE REQUIRED BETWEEN WORKSTATIONS

SEATING FOR THEATRE

DIFFICULTIES WITH CHANGE OF LEVEL

MULTI-ITEMS DISPLAY

MINIMUM PASSAGE WIDTH BETWEEN WORKSTATIONS

SEATING WITH WRITING SHELVES

STANDARDS

VARIOUS HEIGHTS OF SHELVES

SPACE REQUIRED WHILE READING

LAYOUT OF A OFFICE ROOM

SPACES REQUIRED IN A LIBRARY OR OFFICE

SECTIONS THROUGH OFFICE SPACES

STANDARDS

10. AREA STATEMENT : SPACE

S.L. NO.

HELP DESK CLOAKROOM

AT A TIME CAPACITY

100

PUBLIC ENTRANCE COURT

AREA(SQ. M.)

100 20 100

PAY DESK

TICKET COUNTER

SECURITY

30 50

ADMININISTRATION DIRECTORS OFFICE

CURATORS OFFICE

STAFF ROOM

MEETING ROOM

WAITING

RECEPTION

CONTROL ROOM

RECORD ROOM